THE mandatory quarantine period for travellers returning to Malaysia from abroad and for those who have had close contact with Covid-19 patients will be reduced from 14 to 10 days, said Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Noor Hisham said that the decision to shorten the quarantine period beginning tomorrow was made based on the latest clinical reports from around the world and practices in other countries.

“A review of the latest clinical scientific evidence found that the risk of post-quarantine infection will decrease according to the quarantine time period.

“The rate of infection is highest in the first week after exposure.

“Hence, the monitoring and observation period for travellers from abroad, as well as for close-contact tracing, will be shortened from 14 to 10 days,” he said in a statement today.

Noor Hisham said that several countries have reviewed the quarantine period and decided to reduce the number of days.

“Countries like the United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium have shortened their quarantine period to 10 days instead of 14 days, while the quarantine period in France is only seven days,” he said.

The latest amendment on the quarantine duration will take effect starting tomorrow, December 14.

The initial 14-day quarantine period was recommended after the World Health Organisation and other experts estimated that the incubation period for Covid-19 is between two and 14 days. – December 13, 2020.